MLB Offseason and Winter Meetings

[MerrittsMustache]

And now the Padres have acquired Derek Norris and Justin Upton.  Quite the remodel for their team. 

With the additions of Norris, Upton, Kemp and Meyers, the Padres could win or lose 95 games next year.

[buckchuckler]

With the additions of Norris, Upton, Kemp and Meyers, the Padres could win or lose 95 games next year.

They have also apparently traded for Wil Middlebrooks. 

[buckchuckler]

Brewers on the verge of trading Gallardo to the Rangers...

[4everwarriors]

Adios, mf'er

[Blackhat]

Maybe we'll get Mike Maddux back.

[buckchuckler]

Scherzer has signed with the Nats.  Terms not known yet.  Likely 7 years.  Seems odd to me that they wouldn't pony up to extend Zimmerman, but who doesn't like a shiny new toy I guess. 

[tower912]

7 years, $180 mil.

[🏀]

Cubs get Fowler, nice piece.

Nats looking to trade Strasburg.

[LAZER]

7 years, $180 mil.

$210 mil with $105 mil deferred to 2022-2028.

[FartyEightHours]

That is some big cheese.

[buckchuckler]

That is some big cheese.

Take that bobby Bonilla! 

[tower912]

Detroit could not afford that.   Not with the contracts that Verlander, Sanchez, and Cabrera have.   $105 mil deferred?    Wow.

[🏀]

Talk about a retirement plan...

Take that bobby Bonilla! 

Bonilla is getting paid through 2035, so he's still the big winner.

[MU82]

$210 mil with $105 mil deferred to 2022-2028.

Jeezus ... that's almost double what I expect to make during that time frame!!!

[FartyEightHours]

Gallardo for a ss, and two rhp.

http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/106840940/milwaukee-brewers-get-3-players-from-rangers-for-yovani-gallardo

[jsglow]

I personally think it is a good move.  At $13MM, his price tag was too high for his typical 5+ innings.  Teams like Milwaukee have to strike with younger players before their contracts balloon.

[🏀]

It's a move. Three C level prospects, hope one makes the roster in the future.

[Groin_pull]

Just spare parts. Typical Brewers move.

[Benny B]

I personally think it is a good move.  At $13MM, his price tag was too high for his typical 5+ innings.  Teams like Milwaukee have to strike with younger players before their contracts balloon.

Gallardo's pitch counts have been way too high over the past two years.  He's nibbling but even with Lucroy's uber framing prowess, Gallardo just isn't putting the ball into the strike zone.  If his velocity falls off in 2015, the Brewers would have been looking at another Suppan.  That alone is reason to dump Yo's salary.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

FanGraph's Dave Cameron crunched some numbers, and estimates that Scherzer's new contract—$210 million spread out over 14 years—is about as valuable as a seven-year, $170 million contract when adjusted for inflation.

http://deadspin.com/max-scherzers-contract-isnt-quite-as-impressive-as-it-s-1680429105

[buckchuckler]

Brewers are apparently in serious talks about papelbon

[jsglow]

Just spare parts. Typical Brewers move.

No, young prospects more correctly.

For Milwaukee to be competitive they must generate talent (especially pitching) from within and then strike with a key trade or free agent when the time is right.  This deal includes two pitchers who have a real shot to make a solid contribution in the majors (one a few years away) and a switch hitting middle infielder who will likely take Weeks spot on the roster this year.  In return they gave up a guy who naturally had his salary balloon while his performance deteriorated in each of the last two years paving the way for a move or two prior to the opening of camp.

Many folks like to criticize Doug Melvin.  The fact that he's put the Crew in the post season more than once I believe speaks to his skill.  Milwaukee can't contend every year.  The ground simply isn't level enough to support that.  But we're well past the days of a decade of consistent losing.  I'm looking forward to Spring.

[🏀]

No, young prospects more correctly.

For Milwaukee to be competitive they must generate talent (especially pitching) from within and then strike with a key trade or free agent when the time is right.  This deal includes two pitchers who have a real shot to make a solid contribution in the majors (one a few years away) and a switch hitting middle infielder who will likely take Weeks spot on the roster this year.  In return they gave up a guy who naturally had his salary balloon while his performance deteriorated in each of the last two years paving the way for a move or two prior to the opening of camp.

Many folks like to criticize Doug Melvin.  The fact that he's put the Crew in the post season more than once I believe speaks to his skill.  Milwaukee can't contend every year.  The ground simply isn't level enough to support that.  But we're well past the days of a decade of consistent losing.  I'm looking forward to Spring.

I'm really not trying to throw any hate here, but neither pitcher is projected above a C-level.

Knebel's is a bullpen arm.

Diplan could break into the rotation, big fastball guy, but likely a bullpen arm as well.

I think Melvin could have done better trading Gallardo at the deadline.

[GGGG]

I think Melvin is by and large a decent general manager.  My only real criticism is that he is a guy who loves the 90s style power hitter who strikes out a lot (Mark Reynolds last year for example), but then he hired a guy as manager who seems more like a station to station kind of manager.

I also think he hasn't done terribly well at drafting pitchers, but I might be setting the bar too high on that one.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Way too early predictions:

AL Central: Indians
AL West: Angels
AL East: Red Sox
WC1: Mariners
MC2: White Sox (Admittedly a smidge bias)

NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
NL East: Nationals
WC1: Pirates
WC2: Padres/Giants (I know its a copout but its honestly a tossup for me)

ALCS: Angels vs. Red Sox
NLCS: Nationals vs. Cardinals

WS: Nationals over Angels